The Grind (Redux)

A while back I tried an experiment with my (then) new mortar and pestle to grind up some of my dried corn into cornmeal and make a little cornbread. While the results were good, I decided then that I had no interest in repeating that kind of shoulder and arm workout again! Well, I’m back…

Singing the Praises of K-Cups

Now, before you grab your best pitchfork and light a torch to come storm the garden walls after reading the post title, let me say unequivocally that disposable plastic k-cups are an environmental nightmare and an absolute scourge. Torches snuffed? Good. Long ago I switched to a reusable mesh cup for my coffee and tea…

Happy Earth Day

Last night the temperature dropped to what I hope will be the last freeze this spring. I was forced to cover up some of the more sensitive plants I’d set out in a rash burst of exuberant gardening. It wasn’t my fault. Mother Nature also tricked me into early action with her colorful, fragrant (and…

A Bitter Discovery That Turned Out Pretty Sweet

I love to expand the growing capacity of my veggie garden — whether it’s increasing the productivity of the beds I already have or pushing out the borders of the garden to claim new space. But sometimes a different kind of edible opportunity presents itself. The other day I was scouting around the wild spaces…

Playing in the Mud

It was a muddy mess this morning but I went out in the rain anyway because beds gotta be prepared and seeds gotta be planted! Despite the light drizzle and chill, it was a productive time and I was able to plant my peas, radishes, a few rows of Detroit Dark Red beets and a…

Unboxing Day

Look what was stuffed in the mailbox today. It makes a cold winter day a whole lot warmer – it’s the long awaited arrival of my seed order from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company, of course! I didn’t have to order a lot this year since my seed saving efforts went pretty well last autumn….

Sliding into Autumn

One of the ironies of summer is that it’s the season when I have the most to talk about in the garden but the least amount of time to write about it because, you know, it’s nice outside and I’m in the garden! I have been pretty good about snapping photos, though, so if you’ve…

State of the Garden – July 2019

With July underway the garden is in full swing here at The Suburban Farm. This season has been all about experimenting with new things, from the fig tree planted just outside the garden fence, to multicolored-kernel “glass bead” corn and Chinese Pink Celery. I’m even giving the native american “three sisters” method a try in…

Vegan “Cheesy” Southwest Quinoa

I had a hankering recently for something with a southwest flair and meatless. Southwest for me usually means throwing in a bunch of shredded sharp cheddar cheese (plus salsa. Plenty of salsa). Although I try to do a lot more vegetarian meals these days, I don’t typically go looking to make a dish vegan. But…

The Best Offense Is a Good Deer Fence

It was bound to happen. I’d had no garden raiding activity from deer this year so far and then I woke this morning to find a four-legged marauder had nibbled off the tops of several of my amaranth seedlings and the unfenced top leaves of my recently planted fig tree standing about 5 feet tall….

How Many Makes a Crowd?

I’m way beyond three and the indoor nursery here at The Suburban Farm is bursting at the seams! The peppers (so many varieties!) and tomatoes (again so many!) really shot up after being repotted from their starter trays but that’s not all that’s going on. There’s rosemary, celery, basil and even a new experiment: cranberries!…

Overstuffed Squash for Lunch

Every year my stash of squash stored in the garage for the winter make it almost-but-not-quite to the next growing season and then I have to hurry to eat them up before they go bad. The final holdout from last autumn’s garden was a lone franken-squash (I think it was a cross-pollinated hybrid of a…